• Convergence Security Journal
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.135-143
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• 2022

The defense environment is rapidly changing, such as nuclear and missile threats of North Korea, changes in war patterns, and a decrease in military service resources due to low birth rate. In order to actively respond to these changes, the Korean military is promoting Defense Innovation 4.0 and is trying to foster an army armed with high technology such as artificial intelligence (AI), big data analysis, etc. In this regard, we analyze the effectiveness of the radar-based AI scientific guard system applied by high technology for guard operations using Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). We first select evaluation factors that can assess the effectiveness of the scientific guard system, and analyze its relative importance. Each evaluation factor was selected by deriving a significant concept from operating principle and how they work, and by consulting experts on the correlation between each factor and effectiveness of the scientific guard system. We examine the relative effects of the radar-based AI scientific guard system and existing scientific guard system based on the importance of the evaluation factors.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.50-58
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• 2016

The root bark of Ulmus macrocarpa has been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases such as edema, infection and inflammation. Nevertheless, the biological activities and underlying mechanisms of the immunomodulatory effects remain unclear. In this study, as part of our ongoing screening program to evaluate the immunomodulatory potential of new compounds from traditional medicinal resources, we investigated the effects of U. macrocarpa water extract (UME) on immune modulation in a murine RAW 264.7 macrophage model. As immune response parameters, the productions of as nitric oxide (NO) and cytokines such tumor necrotic factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-10 were evaluated. Although the release of IL-1β remained unchanged in UME-treated RAW 264.7 macrophages, the productions of NO, TNF-α and IL-10 were significantly increased, along with the increased expression of inducible NO synthase, TNF-α and IL-10 expression at concentrations with no cytotoxicity. UME treatment also induced the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB), and phosphorylation of Akt and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) indicating that UME activated macrophages through the activation of NF-κB, phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt and MAPKs signaling pathways in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Furthermore, pre-treatment with UME significantly attenuated the production of NO, but not TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-10, in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells suggesting that UME may be useful in preventing inflammatory diseases mediated by excessive production of NO. These findings suggest that the beneficial therapeutic effects of UME may be attributed partly to its ability to modulate immune functions in macrophages.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.8
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• pp.1221-1229
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• 2010

Nerium indicum, an India-Pakistan-originated shrub belonging to the oleander family, is reported to possess many pharmacological activities including cardiac muscle stimulation, and anti-diabetes, anti-angiogenesis, anti-cancer and neuro-protective activities. However, the anti-inflammatory properties of N. indicum were unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects of ethanol extract of the N. indicum leaf and stem (ENIL and ENIS) on the expression of anti-inflammatory mediators in U937 human pre-monocytic cell models. In U937 cells stimulated with phorbol 12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA), pre-treatment with ENIS significantly inhibited the expression of both cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) mRNA and protein, which are associated with inhibition of the release of prostaglandin $E_2\;(PGE_2)$, whereas the inhibitory effects appeared weakly in ENIL. Moreover, ENIS significantly attenuated PMA-induced IkappaB ($I{\kappa}B$) degradation and suppressed elevated nuclear factor kappa B (NF-${\kappa}B$) nuclear translocation. Taken together, these findings provide important new insights that N. indicum exhibits anti-inflammatory properties by suppressing the transcription of pro-inflammatory cytokine genes through the NF-kB signaling pathway.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.105-115
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• 2011

Although there are many possible mechanisms for the intrinsic seismic attenuation in composite materials that include fluids, relative motion between solids and fluids during seismic wave propagation is one of the most important attenuation mechanisms. In our previous study, we conducted ultrasonic wave transmission measurements on an ice-brine coexisting system to examine the influence on ultrasonic waves of the unfrozen brine in the pore microstructure of ice. In order to elucidate the physical mechanism responsible for ultrasonic wave attenuation in the frequency range of 350.600 kHz, measured at different temperatures in partially frozen brines, we employed a poroelastic model based on the Biot theory to describe the propagation of ultrasonic waves through partially frozen brines. By assuming that the solid phase is ice and the liquid phase is the unfrozen brine, fluid properties measured by a pulsed nuclear magnetic resonance technique were used to calculate porosities at different temperatures. The computed intrinsic attenuation at 500 kHz cannot completely predict the measured attenuation results from the experimental study in an ice-brine coexisting system, which suggests that other attenuation mechanisms such as the squirt-flow mechanism and wave scattering effect should be taken into account.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.259-266
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• 2020

The present research work primarily investigated whether spinosin has the potential of improving the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) driven by β-amyloid (Aβ) overproduction through impacting the procession of amyloid precursor protein (APP). Wild type mouse Neuro-2a cells (N2a/WT) and N2a stably expressing human APP695 (N2a/APP695) cells were treated with spinosin for 24 h. The levels of APP protein and secreted enzymes closely related to APP procession were examined by western blot analysis. Oxidative stress related proteins, such as nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) were detected by immunofluorescence assay and western blot analysis, respectively. The intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) level was analyzed by flow cytometry, the levels of Aβ_1-42 were determined by ELISA kit, and Thioflavin T (ThT) assay was used to detect the effect of spinosin on Aβ_1-42 aggregation. The results showed that ROS induced the expression of ADAM10 and reduced the expression of BACE1, while spinosin inhibited ROS production by activating Nrf2 and up-regulating the expression of HO-1. Additionally, spinosin reduced Aβ_1-42 production by impacting the procession of APP. In addition, spinosin inhibited the aggregation of Aβ_1-42. In conclusion, spinosin reduced Aβ_1-42 production by activating the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway in N2a/WT and N2a/APP695 cells. Therefore, spinosin is expected to be a promising treatment of AD.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.501-512
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• 2020

Sasa quelpaertensis Nakai leaf has been used as a folk medicine for the treatment of gastric ulcer, dipsosis, and hematemesis based on its anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, and diuretic characteristics. We have previously reported the procedure for deriving a phytochemical-rich extract (PRE) from S. quelpaertensis and how PRE and its ethyl acetate fraction (EPRE) exhibits an anticancer effect by inducing apoptosis in various gastric cancer cells. To explore the molecular targets involved in this apoptosis, we investigated the mRNA and microRNA profiles of EPRE-treated SNU-16 human gastric cancer cells. In total, 2,875 differentially expressed genes were identified by RNA sequencing, and gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses indicated that the EPRE-modulated genes are associated with apoptosis, mitogen-activated protein kinase, inflammatory response, tumor necrosis factor signaling, and cancer pathways. Subsequently, protein-protein interaction network analysis confirmed interactions among genes associated with cell death and apoptosis, and 27 differentially expressed microRNAs were identified by further sequencing. Here, GO and KEGG pathway analysis revealed that EPRE modified the expression of microRNAs associated with the cell cycle and cell death, as well as signaling of tropomyosin-receptor-kinase receptor, transforming growth factor-b, nuclear factor kB, and cancer pathways. Taken together, these results provide insight into the mechanisms underlying the anticancer effect of EPRE.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.111-120
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• 2020

Remarkable scientific and technological achievements are mainly shown in the 'super-convergence' or 'convergence of convergence' among cross- disciplinary fields, and advanced countries are promoting the 'high-risk, high-return research' ecosystem. Google LLC is carrying out numerous new challenges in terms of a non-failure perspective. Innovative research by the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has produced such breakthroughs as the Internet, GPS, semiconductors, the computer mouse, autonomous vehicles, and drones. China is pioneering a 'Moon Village' and planning the world's largest nuclear fusion energy and ultra-large particle accelerator project. Japan has also launched 'the moonshot technology development research system' to promote disruptive innovation. In Korea, the government is preparing a new research program to tackle the global scientific challenges. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the reasonable geoscientific challenges to be addressed and to conduct a preliminary study on these topics. For this purpose, it is necessary to conduct long-term creative research projects centered on young researchers, select outstanding principal investigators, extract innovative topics without prior research or reference, simplify research proposal procedures, innovate the selection solely based on key ideas, and evaluate results by collective intelligence in the form of conferences.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.295-304
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• 2021

Background: Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is a hematopoietic malignancy driven by promyelocytic leukemia-retinoic acid receptor A (PML-RARA) fusion gene. The therapeutic drugs currently used to treat APL have adverse effects. 20(S)-ginsenoside Rh2 (GRh2) is an anticancer medicine with high effectiveness and low toxicity. However, the underlying anticancer mechanisms of GRh2-induced PML-RARA degradation and apoptosis in human APL cell line (NB4 cells) remain unclear. Methods: Apoptosis-related indicators and PML-RARA expression were determined to investigate the effect of GRh2 on NB4 cells. Z-VAD-FMK, LY294002, and C 87, as inhibitors of caspase, and the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) pathways were used to clarify the relationship between GRh2-induced apoptosis and PML-RARA degradation. Results: GRh2 dose- and time-dependently decreased NB4 cell viability. GRh2-induced apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, and caspase3, caspase8, and caspase9 activation in NB4 cells after a 12-hour treatment. GRh2-induced apoptosis in NB4 cells was accompanied by massive production of reactive oxygen species, mitochondrial damage and upregulated Bax/Bcl-2 expression. GRh2 also induced PML/PML-RARA degradation, PML nuclear bodies formation, and activation of the downstream p53 pathway in NB4 cells. Z-VAD-FMK inhibited caspase activation and significantly reversed GRh2-induced apoptosis and PML-RARA degradation. GRh2 also upregulated TNF-α expression and inhibited Akt phosphorylation. LY294002, an inhibitor of the PI3K pathway, enhanced the antitumor effects of GRh2, and C 87, an inhibitor of the TNF-α pathway, reversed NB4 cell viability, and GRh2-mediated apoptosis in a caspase-8-dependent manner. Conclusion: GRh2 induced caspase-dependent PML-RARA degradation and apoptosis in NB4 cells via the Akt/Bax/caspase9 and TNF-α/caspase8 pathways.

• Journal of Service Research and Studies
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.1-25
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• 2022

This study was conducted for technology development and industrial and enterprise system design for the sustainable life of mankind. Human society is facing a crisis. As the power of mankind has increased due to the development of nuclear weapons and information and communication technologies, the risk of human society has greatly increased. The value of growth and freedom is increasing due to capitalism and democratic systems, so technological innovation is accelerating, and industries and companies are growing significantly. New technologies and industries can greatly develop human society and put it at risk. This study was conducted with the aim of redesigning technology, industry, and enterprise systems so that humans who live on Earth can be more sustainable for a longer time. It presented a practical alternative for a long-term sustainable human society. It suggested alternatives for what philosophy and methodology should be developed for the whole of humanity and in each individual national society, for developing technologies, fostering industries, and operating corporate systems. First of all, the problems of the technology development system, industrial system, and enterprise system of human society were analyzed. The characteristics and problems were analyzed in terms of sustainability of human society. The necessary and sufficient conditions for an alternative system to solve the raised problems were derived. A system that satisfies these conditions was designed and presented. The alternative system was named as a servicism system as a system based on the service philosophy. The structure, operation model, and implementation plan of the new technology industry enterprise system were presented. In the future, follow-up studies are needed to be concreted at the level of individual countries and human society as a whole.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.1109-1114
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• 2023

This study investigated the effects of utilizing 3D printed teaching aids on academic achievement and learning motivation in a non-face-to-face learning environment during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study was divided into an experimental and a comparison group that applied traditional lecture-based teaching and self-directed learning using 3D printed teaching aids and videos. The results of the study showed that the experimental group using 3D printed brain puzzles improved their academic performance compared to the comparison group using traditional lectures. This may be due to the fact that visual and experiential learning helped students to acquire knowledge on their own. The brain puzzles provided an interesting learning experience for the students, and their overall satisfaction with the class was also positive. These results indicate that teaching with teaching aids can increase students' motivation to learn and improve their academic performance. Therefore, the active introduction of 3D printed teaching aids in the non-face-to-face learning environment caused by COVID-19 is expected to improve the quality of education through innovation in learner-centered teaching methods.